Soil & Nutrition
Understanding soil health, pH, nutrients and fertiliser management
21 articles
19 minDAP and Urea Shortage in India: Why It Happens, Stock Position, Price and What Farmers Can Do
Yes, many farmers report that DAP is hard to find in the rabi 2026-27 sowing rush, and the government says national stock is more than demand. Both can be true at once, because stock is national while a farmer needs it at a nearby shop on the sowing day. The official price is Rs 1,350 for a 50 kg bag of DAP. Rajasthan's minister said on 10 Oct 2026 that state stock would last about 18 days for DAP and 35 days for urea. Buy only against a PoS bill at MRP, and report overcharging or forced add-ons to the district agriculture office or the Kisan Call Centre (1800-180-1551).
11 minGypsum in Agriculture: Saline vs Sodic Soil, Dose, Method and When to Apply Before Rabi
Gypsum (calcium sulphate) reclaims sodic or alkali soil, where too much sodium sits on the soil particles and pH is high. It does not fix a purely saline soil, which needs drainage and leaching. ICAR-CSSRI's thumb rule is 12 to 15 tonnes of gypsum per hectare, mixed into the top 10 cm, followed by 7 to 10 days of ponded water, and starting with rice as the first crop. The dose can be halved with FYM or salt-tolerant varieties.
9 minCold Weather and Nutrient Uptake: Why Winter Crops Turn Yellow or Purple and What to Do
In cold weather, soil is cold and roots grow slowly. Nutrients that move slowly through soil, mainly phosphorus, zinc, manganese and iron, then reach the roots less. Leaves can turn yellow or purple even when the soil has enough. This is often temporary and clears as the soil warms. First check the cause, avoid extra urea, give light irrigation before a cold wave, and test the soil before you spray.
5 minWheat Yellowing After First Irrigation: Zinc, Sulphur, Manganese or Urea Timing?
Wheat that yellows after the first irrigation usually has one of five causes: temporary waterlogging, nitrogen shortage from late urea, manganese deficiency on light soils, sulphur deficiency on sandy soils, or zinc deficiency. Check which leaves yellow first and the pattern, then correct with drainage, urea, or a manganese, zinc or sulphur dose.
6 minSoil Testing Before Rabi: How to Read Your Soil Health Card
To read a Soil Health Card, check three parts: soil condition (pH, EC, organic carbon), nutrient status (N, P, K, S and five micronutrients rated low, medium or high) and the crop-wise fertilizer recommendation. Low means add more of that nutrient, high means you can cut back. Then convert kg of nutrient into fertilizer bags.
9 minDAP Shortage? 5 Practical DAP Alternatives (SSP, NPK 12:32:16, Nano DAP) Compared
The most practical DAP alternatives are SSP (3 bags per DAP bag, plus about 20 kg extra urea), NPK 12:32:16 (about 1.5 bags), NPK 10:26:26 (about 1.8 bags) and TSP (1 bag, plus urea). Nano DAP supports seed treatment and foliar feeding but cannot replace the phosphorus that basal DAP supplies.
9 minSoil pH and nutrient lock: why your fertiliser is not working
If you applied fertiliser and the crop did not respond, the nutrient is often still sitting in the soil in a form the root cannot absorb. Soil pH is the usual reason. Most nutrients are freely available between pH 6.0 and 7.0, and several shut down outside that band.
9 minBio vs chemical inputs: where each one actually wins
Chemical inputs stop an outbreak that is already underway. Biologicals prevent one from starting, protect the soil, and keep produce free of residue. They are not competitors. Used in the wrong order, both disappoint.
9 minWater-soluble vs granular fertiliser: when each one is worth the money
Water-soluble fertiliser costs two to four times more per kilogram than granular. It is worth that premium only when the crop needs a nutrient fast, or when you are already running drip. For the base dose at sowing, granular still wins on cost.
